Moyer is the Phillies 5th Starter

Some breaking news coming down the Twitter line, via all the Phillies beat guys – Jamie Moyer has officially been named the 5th starter in the rotation by Charlie Manuel.

Kyle Kendrick, who started today against Houston and pitched just two frames, will head to the bullpen. Both men have pitched very well throughout this spring, but the 47-year-old Moyer will get the nod as the season begins in less than one week.

It’s likely at some point we will see Kendrick on the hill to start a game, however, the Phillies feel Moyer and his albatross of a contract deserve one more shot in 2010. Thoughts??

Can’t say it’s surprising. He’s pitched better than expected during Spring Training, and with his contract, they need to make every attempt they can to get something productive out of him. Kendrick is easily more adaptable in terms of his role on the team than Moyer is. I agree though that we’ll see Kendrick start his fair share of games this season. Having 6 capable starting pitchers is NEVER a bad thing.

I may be naive, but I believe the contract played a minor part, if any. It was Moyer’s job to lose out of respect for a pro who gives it everything he has every time out. KK pitched better, but Moyer didn’t embarass himself. In addition, KK is more useful out of the pen than Moyer (who needs an inning notice to warm up). The best thing for the Phils is for Moyer to be Moyer (3 runs in 6 or 7 innings), KK ready to step in when someone needs a break. I forget the exact numbers, but I think only 3 teams had 4 pitchers start more than 20 games. A sixth starter will be needed at some point. I feel pretty good about KK in the pen pitching to major league hitters, making spot starts, getting ready to be in the regular rotation next year.

I think if Moyer looked horrible during the spring, The job would be Kendrick’s. I think for right now, Kendrick is the better option coming out of the bullpen. You can always put KK back in the rotation if or more than likely when Moyer fizzles out or gets hurt. Besides, Contreras looks horrible right now and the pen could use another arm.

If the reports are true ( I have not read anything “official” from the team), then congratulations to Jamie. He deserves to be in rotation based on his hard work in recovering from post season surgeries and a very effective Spring training performance (especially his 6.2 shutout innings against the Yankees in his last time out). By the way, mr. Gallen showed his bias for Kendrick with the remark that the Phillies chose Moyer because of..”his albatross of a contract.” 😉

Moyer earned his spot. Having KK and even Contreras as insurance starters puts the Phils among the top handful of teams pitching wise. The rotation hasn’t gotten a lot of attention this spring, but I feel like our top 4 are on par with any other team in the bigs. If Happ puts up numbers similar to Blanton’s typical season, we’re in good shape.

Definitely the right move for the moment. Kendrick is a better bullpen option than Moyer.

I just hope Bastardo pitches better in the regular season than he has in ST, or that a lefty can be added if he doesn’t. There is a worry about budget, though. So far it looks like signing Contreras was a big waste of money, and there’s probably not much left in the till.

I hope he kicks butt – it is a great story, and maybe after this contract he retires and can consult or coach other pitchers in the system. Although I think is home is still up in Seattle, so I wonder if he is thinking in that direction at all…

If/when KK gets to start, I hope this season for him looks anything like Happ’s last season. I’d take that in a heartbeat.

I think that Moyer being given the nod is a combination of respect for a hometown guy and veteran player, the fact that he has a better track record than Kendrick, and possibly the contract a little bit as well…but probably not as much as some people would like to think.

If Moyer wins 12 games and pitches 175 plus innings, with this being the last year on his contract, is that still an albatross? Forget about the age. He probably helps some of the younger guys. You may be right, but this guy has come back from the dead so many times he can be called “Mummy” Moyer.

Hells yes. Congratulations, Jamie. Get out there and show all these fickle naysayers that you’ve still got it.

Focus on the results, people. Don’t say “$8m for a 47 year old pitcher is an albatross.” Say “$8m for a pitcher who has proven he can be counted on for at least a dozen wins even in an off year isn’t the best deal ever, but it ain’t half bad.”

We all know things will change during the season, and of course Kyle will end up starting at some point for some reason, but Jamie has worked so hard and proven so much about himself, to still be pitching as well as he is at his age, that I want to see him go as far as he can.

I think one thing that’s being overlooked by some folks is that KK might be really important to the bullpen early in the season. He’ll give us much more help in the pen than Jamie would, because KK can pitch back-to-back days and so on.

Not really suprising and I think it’s probably the right call. There’s a chance however unlikely that we’ll get the Jamie Moyer we had in 08. I think that’s worth letting him start the seaon in the rotation, especially if we’ve got Kendrick ready to pull a Happ for us.

Can’t wait for the season to start checked the weather today for April 5th, high of 73, partly cloudy, that sounds perfect to me. Can’t wait to invade Nationals stadium with the rest of the nation.

Kendrick, who was battling with Jamie Moyer for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, threw only two innings as the club pulled him back in preparation for a bullpen role. He gave up two hits and one run. Antonio Bastardo gave up one hit in two-thirds of an inning, and Jose Contreras was rocked for three hits, three runs and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.

Moyer has lead a playoff team in wins in each of the last 3 years! Yeah, wins are a ‘luck’ stat but you kinda need them to get into the playoffs.
I agree with the bad contract (2 years with easy escalators when they could have just arbitrated him was foolish). Without it, I doubt he would be on the Phillies this year (and likely would have retired).
My guess is he is an average 5th starter going about 5 innings with 3 runs with a good game every so often and a some very short stints. But no one should be questioning his desire and that may be important in the clubhouse for a team that could try to coast into the playoff again.

Doesn’t Jamie Moyer have an ERA under 1.00 in Spring training? I think this is the best move because Kendrick gives the BP some stability. He’s like a cheaper and better version of Contreres, so that gives Chollie some flexibility. Maybe hell return close to his 08 form?

Horrible move. Kyle won the job. Moyers contract is a waste. After a few games of him giving up 6 runs before the 5th inning he will be pulled. He is a has been pitcher. Average in his time. Kyle should start. Phillies will be in the world series again and will FALL to the yankees. They are the greatest team in the world. The greatest pitching staff in the world. Now they get javier who could be a number two on our team. PLEASE CHILD.

I’m glad Jamie has pitched well this spring. Because of his galling contract, the job was his from the git, provided he could physically walk out to the mound. Its nice to see that Ruben didn’t have to put Charlie in the awkward position of throwing Jamie out there after a bad spring and having to make up some crap about why Kendrick wasn’t pitching. Sticky situation avoided.

I guess Moyer deserves the shot to keep his spot. If he turns out to pitch like crap, it wouldnt surprise me to see him come down with an “injury” so that they can keep him around to mentor the younger players.

Albatross
You put that on the front and expect open debate?
Maybe cole will sin more games than the 65 year old this year. that would be something at least.
On a side note I am going o the thursday game in DC game 3. I get a Blanton start?

Jeff, please go away you bring disgrace to the name. The Yankess pitching staff is the best? are you serious, I can name several others that are better and the Phillies are one that is on par with them not below but on the same level.

Roy Halladay, best pitcher or at least heavily in the conversation.

CC is a good pitcher, but is overworked and has not been great in the postseason,
Pettite has had a great career but definitely on the tail end of his career,
Burnett- waste of money, had one good game in the post season thats it.

JUST KIDDING…With that contract and his track record of being better at the beginning of the season, don’t forget that part of it, its no surprise he gets the first chance. I doubt he will last as long as he did last year, so Kendrick will probably supplant him by June.

Aumont needs another year to hone the skills, and JC Ramirez needs two probably. My problem with Moyer was always that they relied on him as a three or sometimes more heavily when in reality he was not that. BUT, as a 5th starter? There are plenty of worse 5th starter options out there, so its not a big deal.

Kendrick has been a good soldier in all this, and he has really gotten a lot better, and I do feel that he will be back as the 5th guy and that he will stick in the rotation for the rest of the season when he gets his chance.

Unless someone really tanks or gets hurt, I do not think they will trade for a starter this year at the deadline, thankfully.

I got my tickets finally, give or take the handful of random games you go to that you don’t plan to go to, I will be going to less games this time, but I got way better seats.

Behind home plate, back of the row, aisle. 6 or 7 games there plus a few random games that get tossed your way. I would take 7 games in those seats of the 25 I went to last year sitting way up high. SCORE!

Hamels always gets a pass.
Has anyone made the long posts abot his K per 9 or whatever state he has that is better than Jamies yet? when I point out out that Moyer has the same amount of wins as hamels the last 4 years they dont like that.
I huess its nto abot winning games when comparing Hamels and Moyer. It is about who has a better arm and who is flashier. Ill take a winner over a flashy loser any day.

Anyone else find it amusing that Chris Coste got claimed by the Nationals on waivers? Not even the Mets wanted him, and he’s starting in Triple-A for the Nats. Maybe, if he’s lucky, he’ll get to play with Eric Bruntlett.

Pat, I echo what Andrew said at 9:47… calling this situation an albatross would be ok if you were writing an op-ed piece but in this case, you’re asking for an open debate and you probably shouldn’t have mentioned your personal feelings.

I’m ok with starting Moyer… our bullpen is thin right now and we need a strong arm in the pen. In my opinion, that arm belongs to Kyle Kendrick. I suspect that Kendrick will start many games this year but at least while Lidge/Romero are on the mend, it makes sense to have him in the bullpen.

Moyer is at his best when he’s pitching to prove something (or pitching with a bit of a chip on his shoulder). In this case, everyone fully expects the wheels to fall off… maybe he can pull it all together for one more magical season. I wouldn’t bet on it but it could happen.

“$8 Million for a proven veteran pitcher, that helped us reach the playoffs in 2008…which let us have a chance to win the World Series” Holla!!!!

…
Like many, I was in favor of Kendrick.. but Moyer (if he’s healthy).. gives hitters a look like they’ll see from no other pitcher in the game. They say “HITTING IS TIMING… PITCHING IS DISRUPTING A HITTER’S TIMING” ..

and Moyer does that very well.. if he doesn’t do it.. you have Kendrick who has earned his shot. But surprising early-career success, then a sharp downfall in his performance, and then a pretty decent season in 2009.. doesn’t give me all this confidence in Kendrick. It’s great that he had a nice spring (so did Moyer)… but if you had one game to win, I think everyone would take their chances with the veteran.. instead of the Kid. . . . and whenever the Phillies feel otherwise, they’ll make the change to Kendrick as the #5

I also read about Lidge’s elbow soreness popping up. It did reported that it was not in the area where he had surgery. But a cortisone injection never is a good thing, and this is worth watching. It will probably delay his return to the team for another week or two.

That is probably why the Phils were looking for low-cost types of starting/relief swingmen. Dana Evland, Boof Bonser, guys like that. Soemone who would probably end up in the pen but who has started in the past.